Emirates Airlines will begin offering flights from Dubai to Mauritius as of September 1. The non-stop flights straight down to the island, off the southeastern coast of Africa, will be operated with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft in a two-cabin configuration, stated a press release.

Emirates is the main launch customer for the Airbus A380 Super Jumbo, with a firm order for 22, plus 10 options. Other aircraft orders, including eight Airbus A340-600 aircraft and 25 Boeing 777s in two versions, will boost Emirates’ fleet to 100 aircraft by the year 2010.

With the addition this year of new routes to Casablanca and Khartoum, Emirates flies to 58 destinations in 41 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Far East, Asia and Australia. Further new destinations this year, include Perth and Osaka. The airline is planning to start operations to North America in 2003, with the delivery of the long-range Airbus A340-500 aircraft. — (menareport.com)